Determination of sediment quality in Boğacık Creek (Giresun)

The aim of this study was to determine the sediment quality of the Boğacık Creek, Giresun. For this purpose, the surface sediment samples from three different stations in the Boğacık Creek were collected monthly from March 2017 to February 2018. Heavy metals (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) levels in sediment were determined using ICP-MS. Moreover, the sediment samples were also monitored for pH, EC, Water Content (%) and Organic Matter (%) variables. Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Enrichment Factor (EF) values calculated according to metal contents and differences between stations were investigated statistically. In surface sediment samples, according to analysis results were obtained for the concentration ranges of the metals (ppm): Al: 44,74-9317, Cr: 4,879-22689, Mn: 127-454, Fe: 7632-14469, Co: 2,574- 7,639, Ni: 0,838-5,766, Cu: 4,900-29,248, Zn: 16,346-36,107, Cd: 0,063-0,488 and Pb: 13,966-50,584 and pH, EC, Na, K, Water Content (%) and Organic Matter (%) values varied between 6-7,3, 140-1770 mS/cm, 1,10-669,80 ppm, 3,50-11,335,10 ppm, 22,15-62,13, 2,5-19,74, respectively. The Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) of Sediment samples varied between Class 0 and Class 5, while enrichment factor (EF) values varied between 0,13 and 7,13. As a result of this study, it was determined that the surface sediment samples of Boğacık Creek were exposed to enrichment of anthropogenic origin. For this reason, it is recommended that the Boğacık Creek, which flows into the Black Sea, be kept under control with a regular monitoring program.